Time For Thanks

We are reminded again this week of how large a debt the community owes the volunteers in our fire departments. On Friday evening, as the wind-chill hovered near zero, two fires in Montauk, one quite serious, the other much less so, brought firefighters into the cold not only from Montauk but from Amagansett, East Hampton, and Springs.

While the fires were commanding full attention, and the Montauk ambulance was bringing one motel resident to the hospital, another four ambulances were called out in quick succession to aid persons in distress in East Hampton, Springs, and Sag Harbor. Easily hundreds of fire and ambulance personnel were on the job in difficult circumstances. An East Hampton Village dispatcher said Friday was one of the busiest nights he'd ever had. And the calls continued, even though it is the dead of winter, all weekend long.

Few of us like to dwell on the thought that someday it may be us on the receiving end of the volunteers' effort and skill, but we know no one is immune to misfortune. Now is as good a time as any to say "thank you."